Task Force on Systematic Review and Guidelines

The Task Force on Systematic Review and Guidelines develops and presents consensus/position statements and recommends strategies associated with the conduct of systematic reviews in disability and rehabilitation research.

Task Force Objectives

To review role of systematic reviews in NIDRR-sponsored research.

To consider roles in implications of systematic reviews in structuring NIDRR's research agenda.

To describe expectations related to systematic review appropriate for inclusion in NIDRR research project announcements.

To review appropriate use of systematic reviews and other approaches to aggregating evidence-based knowledge addressing the three stages of knowledge.

To describe resources needed to support NIDRR grantees involvement in systematic reviews and guideline development.

To suggest strategies to promote the use of evidence-based systematic reviews and guidelines.

The Task Force held regular teleconferences to discuss topics related to these objectives.

Task Force Members

The Task Force is made up of experienced NIDRR-funded researchers who volunteered to work in this capacity.

Marcel Dijkers (Facilitator, 2006-2011)

Michael Boninger (2006-2009)

Tamara Bushnik (2006-2011)

Peter Esselman (2006-2010)

Steven Gard (2006-2008)

Wayne Gordon (2006-2010)

Allen Heinemann (2006-2011)

Tamar Heller (2009-2011)

Alexander Libin (2009-2011)

Chad Nye (2010-2011)

Mark Sherer (2006-2011)

David Vandergoot (2006-2011)

Michael L Wehmeyer (2006-2009)

Joann Starks (NCDDR Liaison, 2006-2011)

Outcomes

In 2008 the Task Force developed two papers for public review and comment. The first paper focused on Systematic vs. traditional reviews and was presented in a webcast on September 3, 2008.

See: "The value of 'traditional reviews' in the era of systematic reviewing," published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (May 2009, Vol. 88, No. 5, pp. 423-430)